Video Downloader Bot Setup Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to install and run the Video Downloader bot on a Linux system.

• Backend code uses yt-dlp which is released under The Unlicense. All rights for yt-dlp belong to its respective authors.

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Deploy with Docker

Edit .env file with your secrets and run the container. Use .env.example as a reference.

docker build . -t downloader-bot:latest
docker run -d --name downloader-bot --restart always --env-file .env downloader-bot:latest

or use builded image from Docker hub

docker run -d --name downloader-bot --restart always --env-file .env ovchynnikov/load-bot-linux:latest

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Alternatively, you can use Linux Service (daemon)

1. Clone and Install

Clone the repo

git clone https://github.com/ovchynnikov/load-bot-linux.git

Install dependencies

pip install -r scr/requirements.txt

sudo apt update && sudo apt install ffmpeg -y

• Change permissions for the yt-dlp

sudo chmod a+rx $(which yt-dlp)

Create a Linux service

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/downloader-bot.service

2. Configure the Service File

Create a service file for the bot using the following command:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/downloader-bot.service

Add the following configuration to the file:

[Unit]
Description=Video Downloader Bot Service
After=network.target

[Service]
User=your_linux_user                                   # <====== REPLACE `your_linux_user` with the username that will run the bot.
WorkingDirectory=/path/to/your/bot                     # <====== REPLACE THIS with the absolute path to your bot's folder.
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /path/to/your/bot/main.py   # <====== REPLACE THIS with the command to start your bot. Adjust if you're using a virtual environment.
Restart=always                                         # Ensures the bot restarts automatically if it crashes.
RestartSec=5
Environment="BOT_TOKEN=your_bot_token"                 # <====== REPLACE THIS with your bot token.
Environment="LOG_LEVEL=INFO"
Environment="LIMIT_BOT_ACCESS=False"                   # <====== REPLACE THIS (value is optional. False by default) Type: Boolean
Environment="ALLOWED_USERNAMES="                       # <====== REPLACE THIS (value is optional) Type: string separated by commas. Example: ALLOWED_USERNAMES=username1,username2,username3
Environment="ALLOWED_CHAT_IDS="                        # <====== REPLACE THIS (value is optional) Type: string separated by commas  Example: ALLOWED_CHAT_IDS=12349,12345,123456

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

3. Start the Bot Service

Reload the systemd daemon and start the bot service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable downloader-bot.service
sudo systemctl start downloader-bot.service
sudo systemctl status downloader-bot.service

Troubleshooting

• Check the status of the service:

  sudo systemctl status downloader-bot.service

• View logs for more details:

  journalctl -u downloader-bot.service

How to use the bot

1. Create Your Token for the Telegram Bot

• Follow this guide to create your Telegram bot and obtain the bot token: How to Get Your Bot Token. Make sure you put token in .env file

2. Health Check

• Verify the bot is running by sending a message with the trigger word:

  bot_health

  or

  ботяра

  If the bot is active, it will respond accordingly.

3. Once the bot is created and the Linux service or Docker image is running:

1. Send a URL from YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, or similar platforms to the bot. Example:

https://youtube.com/shorts/kaTxVLGd6IE?si=YaUM3gYjr1kcXqTm

2. Wait for the bot to process the URL and respond.

Supported platforms by default:

instagram reels
tiktok
reddit
x.com
youtube shorts

Additionally, the bot can download videos from other sources. Videos shorter than 10 minutes usually work fine. The Telegram limitation for a video is 50 MB.

• To download the full video from YouTube add two asterisks before the url address. Example:

  **https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxdu3whDVSM or with a space ** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxdu3whDVSM

• Full list of supported sites here: yt-dlp Supported Sites

The bot can use 'Safelist' to restrict access for users or groups.

Ensure these variables are set in your .env file, without them or with the chat ID and username. You can get your chat_id or username by setting LIMIT_BOT_ACCESS=True first. Then, send a link, and the bot will answer you with the chat ID and username.

• Allowed Group Chat priority is highest. All users in the Group Chat can use the bot even if they have no access to the bot in private chat.
• When LIMIT_BOT_ACCESS=True to use the bot in private messages add the username to the ALLOWED_USERNAMES variable.
• If you want a bot in your Group Chat with restrictions, leave ALLOWED_CHAT_IDS empty and define the ALLOWED_USERNAMES variable list.

LIMIT_BOT_ACCESS=False  # If True, the bot will only work for users in ALLOWED_USERNAMES or ALLOWED_CHAT_IDS
ALLOWED_USERNAMES= # a list of allowed usernames as strings separated by commas. Example: ALLOWED_USERNAMES=username1,username2,username3
ALLOWED_CHAT_IDS= # a list of allowed chat IDs as strings separated by commas. Example: ALLOWED_CHAT_IDS=12349,12345,123456

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